Two neighboring towns in Chautauqua County are considering merging their courts.

A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at the Ellington Town Hall, where the community is invited to share their thoughts on a proposal to merge the Ellington and Charlotte town courts.

Jeff Crossley is the town judge for both the towns of Charlotte and Ellington.

Charlotte Town Supervisor Francis S. Lauricella Jr. said this proposal has been discussed over the years.

He noted the two towns are nine miles apart and that Ellington’s court is much larger than Charlotte’s is.

“We already share the judge. This would allow us to utilize their courthouse,” Lauricella said. “By merging the courts, you go down from two buildings to one building. You go down from having two justices to one justice. There’s cost saving measures involved, different things that are better for both towns.”

Lauricella said it “seems to be a logical move” but he wants to wait to hear what the general public has to say.

Lauricella said Crossley has stayed neutral on the topic, but in general, is not opposed to the move.

Should the public and both town boards support the move, Lauricella said they will need to get the state legislature involved for its approval. He said they are already working with state Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor to get this on the state legislature’s agenda.

If it happens, this won’t be the first time towns in Chautauqua County have merged their courts.

In 2021, the towns of Sherman, Mina, French Creek and Clymer merged their courts to a single operation.

Also the towns of Harmony and North Harmony have a merged court as well, which took effect Jan. 1, 2025.